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JOHN AND LEILA MCPHERSON MAXNESS INTERVIEW
OH 1077
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
Introduction
This is Mary Murphy it is August 1, 1987. The following is an interview with Leila McPherson
Maxness, her sister Flora and her husband John. We are on the Maxness ranch outside Fort Peck
[ Montana] for the Fort Peck Dam Project. [ Editor's Note: The Fort Peck Dam Project is a
subproject of " The New Deal In Montana" oral history project which was conducted by the Oral
History Program of the Montana Historical Society].
Interview
1 to 5 minutes
Leila discusses early teaching career that stretched to 30 years. Leila talks about first husband,
McPherson, and father's disapproval of him. Ranch life. The McPherson's started McCone City.
The beer man came and asked them to named town Hamms and they'd give them free beer. They
named it McCone City because many people came from McCone County. Remembers when slide
occurred and man came to tell everyone to get to higher ground. Panic of everyone.
6 to 10 minutes
Remembers when surveyors were in area and she was very pregnant at the time. They invited them
to stay for dinner. " That was the start of the dam as far as we were concerned." Didn't think they'd
see it finished. Mentions Slim Finley, others. Isolation from dam site. To get across river, had to
take rowboat. Would just drive team of horses across on the ice in winter. Husband, Tom, got job
on dam.
11 to 15 minutes
Remembers first car had. Leila stayed on ranch, Tom rode horseback to dam, clearing trees.
( interruption, tape stopped) John discusses surveying in area. Leila and Tom started bar. No law
enforcement. " You got from preachers to scum and it was a lawless place." Remembers first
deputy and jail. Most " of ' em" they took to Ft Peck. Remembers incident when woman left
children sleeping in house to go to meat market and it caught fire. Leila lists
McCone City businesses.

Interviewed by Mary Murphy on 1 Aug. 1987 in Fort Peck, Mont., as part of the repository's New Deal in Montana/Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project.; Topics include living in McCone City; Leila's work running a tavern with her first husband, Tom McPherson; recreation; and John's employment clearing brush.; Residents of the Fort Peck area during the construction of Fort Peck Dam in the late 1930s.

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JOHN AND LEILA MCPHERSON MAXNESS INTERVIEW
OH 1077
New Deal in Montana/ Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project
Montana Historical Society
Summary
Introduction
This is Mary Murphy it is August 1, 1987. The following is an interview with Leila McPherson
Maxness, her sister Flora and her husband John. We are on the Maxness ranch outside Fort Peck
[ Montana] for the Fort Peck Dam Project. [ Editor's Note: The Fort Peck Dam Project is a
subproject of " The New Deal In Montana" oral history project which was conducted by the Oral
History Program of the Montana Historical Society].
Interview
1 to 5 minutes
Leila discusses early teaching career that stretched to 30 years. Leila talks about first husband,
McPherson, and father's disapproval of him. Ranch life. The McPherson's started McCone City.
The beer man came and asked them to named town Hamms and they'd give them free beer. They
named it McCone City because many people came from McCone County. Remembers when slide
occurred and man came to tell everyone to get to higher ground. Panic of everyone.
6 to 10 minutes
Remembers when surveyors were in area and she was very pregnant at the time. They invited them
to stay for dinner. " That was the start of the dam as far as we were concerned." Didn't think they'd
see it finished. Mentions Slim Finley, others. Isolation from dam site. To get across river, had to
take rowboat. Would just drive team of horses across on the ice in winter. Husband, Tom, got job
on dam.
11 to 15 minutes
Remembers first car had. Leila stayed on ranch, Tom rode horseback to dam, clearing trees.
( interruption, tape stopped) John discusses surveying in area. Leila and Tom started bar. No law
enforcement. " You got from preachers to scum and it was a lawless place." Remembers first
deputy and jail. Most " of ' em" they took to Ft Peck. Remembers incident when woman left
children sleeping in house to go to meat market and it caught fire. Leila lists
McCone City businesses.